In the Classroom   

This is the longest of the six major Yang-style tai chi movements, taking about 25 minutes to complete. Tai Chi is known for developing balance, strength, and flexibility. It is a form of meditation in movement. In this class you will learn the first third of the forms, or about 36 moves, in a workshop environment.

This is the longest of the six major Yang-style tai chi movements, taking about 25 minutes to complete. Tai Chi is known for developing balance, strength, and flexibility. It is a form of meditation in movement. In this class we will review the first 36 forms in a workshop environment. Additional forms will be taught as the group is ready.

This is the shortest of the six major Yang-style tai chi movements, taking about six minutes to complete. Tai Chi is known for developing balance, strength, and flexibility. It is a form of meditation in movement. In this class you will learn all 24 forms and by the end be able to join other groups wherever you go.

This workshop is designed to awaken you to your inherent wholeness. We will explore and practice direct experience of wholeness and presence for greater choice, creative insight, and joy in daily life. We’ve all read numerous books and participated in discussions on these fascinating, yet seemingly out of reach and intangible concepts. Lift the perceptual veil and enable direct access to that which already is. Let’s now move from the conceptual to the experiential by exploring active practices of wholeness with an intention of ease, effortlessness, and enjoyment.

This class for seasoned sketchers will focus on development of skills through practice using a different theme each week. There will be guidance from the instructor but not specific lessons. Prerequisite: one of the previous sketching classes.

OLLI students will have an opportunity to look at the prints in the Janet Turner collection at Chico State and write about them. This class is for beginning writers as well as experienced ones. Jean Varda and Joan Goodreau, authors and OLLI members, will guide students through the art-to-writing process. There will also be a print exhibition at the Turner gallery in the fall that we will be using to inspire our poems and short fiction/non-fiction.

After America's entry into WWII, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) initiated a new concept to warfare: daylight strategic bombing. This class will explore the aircraft types used and the personalities of the people involved.

This class is for people who know how to play the basic A to G chords on guitar, although class members may bring other stringed instruments to play, e.g. mandolin, bass, ukulele, banjo, harmonica, or squeeze box. Or sing along without an instrument! Songs and lyrics will be emailed each week, featuring artists like Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Everly Brothers, The Drifters, and other favorites from the 1950s and 1960s.

Chico State's tradition of academic excellence goes back more than 130 years. With 1,000 faculty members and 15,500 students, the University's teaching and learning community is thriving. Discover the imagination, cutting-edge research, and expertise that flourishes in our own backyard!

A scintillating review of current themes in the media will be discussed in each class. Class members present a topic, discuss it, then open the floor for discussion and debate. Poetry, literature, scientific discovery, and educational progress are examples of the issues dealt with. Special guests are welcome to present.

Cribbage is a great card game for two people: fast, unpredictable, and portable. Though the game has many rules, this class will take you through all facets of the game, step by step. By the time you have finished this class, you will not only know the game well, but you will also know how to teach the game to others. If you already know the game, come play with us. Been looking for someone to play with? Maybe you will find a new friend and opponent here!

Chico Performances is curating a series of lectures prior to six Laxson Auditorium performances during the 2022-2023 season. These pre-show lectures, exclusively for OLLI members, will be held the Tuesday before each performance at The Social Chico.

When you sign up for a lecture, you will receive a 20% discount on two tickets for each performance. You can purchase your discounted tickets through the Chico Performances Box Office using the code in your registration confirmation email.

Chico Performances is curating a series of lectures prior to six Laxson Auditorium performances during the 2022-2023 season. These pre-show lectures, exclusively for OLLI members, will be held the Tuesday before each performance at The Social Chico.

When you sign up for a lecture, you will receive a 20% discount on two tickets for each performance. You can purchase your discounted tickets through the Chico Performances Box Office using the code in your registration confirmation email.

Chico Performances is curating a series of lectures prior to six Laxson Auditorium performances during the 2022-2023 season. These pre-show lectures, exclusively for OLLI members, will be held the Tuesday before each performance at The Social Chico.

When you sign up for a lecture, you will receive a 20% discount on two tickets for each performance. You can purchase your discounted tickets through the Chico Performances Box Office using the code in your registration confirmation email.

Chico Performances is curating a series of lectures prior to six Laxson Auditorium performances during the 2022-2023 season. These pre-show lectures, exclusively for OLLI members, will be held the Tuesday before each performance at The Social Chico.

When you sign up for a lecture, you will receive a 20% discount on two tickets for each performance. You can purchase your discounted tickets through the Chico Performances Box Office using the code in your registration confirmation email.

Chico Performances is curating a series of lectures prior to six Laxson Auditorium performances during the 2022-2023 season. These pre-show lectures, exclusively for OLLI members, will be held the Tuesday before each performance at The Social Chico.

When you sign up for a lecture, you will receive a 20% discount on two tickets for each performance. You can purchase your discounted tickets through the Chico Performances Box Office using the code in your registration confirmation email.

Chico Performances is curating a series of lectures prior to six Laxson Auditorium performances during the 2022-2023 season. These pre-show lectures, exclusively for OLLI members, will be held the Tuesday before each performance at The Social Chico.

When you sign up for a lecture, you will receive a 20% discount on two tickets for each performance. You can purchase your discounted tickets through the Chico Performances Box Office using the code in your registration confirmation email.

Have you ever heard radio hosts say, "I hate annuities," "Annuities are bad," or "Annuities have lots of fees"? This class is designed to demystify what you may have heard about annuities. For example, you may not know that there are four main types of annuities, that some annuities have zero fees, that some annuities are liquid, or that some annuities act much like a CD. Annuities can be complex investment products, and they may not be for everyone. Learn the pros and cons of the various annuities.

Emergency situations can be painful and expensive in terms of human suffering, property loss, and emotional wear and tear. Some of these impacts can be lessened or avoided with careful preparation. This course is about reducing or avoiding the negative impacts of emergency events through planning and preparation. Participants will review their unique personal situations, then take steps to improve their resiliency and responsiveness to whatever comes their way.

This course is designed to assist you in planning the transfer of your wealth to spouses, children, grandchildren, and any other people or organizations you want to benefit from your estate. We will explore the advantages and disadvantages of different methods for wealth transfer to enable you to make better decisions regarding your own estate. Plan on both lecture and discourse, as many exciting things can be learned from information and experiences of participants. I look forward to taking this journey with you.

You may know in the back of your mind that someday you will be responsible for settling the estate of a parent, spouse, sibling, or other loved one. What does it mean to be named as an estate executor or trustee? What will you be responsible to do, on your own and with professionals? This class will summarize the major responsibilities of the executor/trustee, and will provide a number of related tips and resources. Ample time will be available for Q&A.

Feng shui has been around for centuries, but the world is different now, and feng shui must adapt to the challenges we face in today's world. This class looks at ways to balance and harmonize your spaces, with all the technology and “stuff” we deal with on a regular basis. Your spaces are a reflection of your life. Change your spaces, change your life. This is more important than ever in today’s complex world! In this class, we will work with the floor plan of your home for opportunities to enhance areas of your life. We take a deeper look at the energy of who you are and why you relate to the world as you do.

Forgiveness is the conscious, deliberate decision to release feelings of resentment toward someone or something that has harmed you, regardless of whether they deserve it. This is a personal decision to let go of negative emotions which then enables us to move forward and leave that past behind. Forgiveness is not forgetting nor does it deny the seriousness of an offense, but it brings us peace of mind and freedom to enjoy the today. Forgiving can lead to healthier relationships and greater spiritual and psychological well-being.

California's temperate climate allows an amazing array of plants to be grown locally. Edible gardens, pollinator gardens, native gardens, contemplative gardens, and demonstration gardens are some of the many varieties to tour. Inspired by the successful model of the "Arts & Eats" OLLI class, "Garden Gourmands" will focus on touring the art of garden landscapes combined with eating locally. Join two Master Gardeners as we explore different area gardens followed by a no-host lunch at various local eateries to enjoy the bounty of Butte County.

"Great Decisions" is the Foreign Policy Association's public education program about United States foreign policy and global affairs issues. Topics include: changing demographics, outer space, climate change, The Quad Alliance, industrial policy, drug policy in Latin America, and the White House agenda. We will select four topics each semester, plus additional topics of interest to the class.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) received over 2.8 million fraud complaints in 2021, accounting for $5.8 billion in financial losses, a $2.4 billion increase from 2020. The most common types of fraud were imposter scams; online shopping scams; and fake sweepstakes, prizes, and lotteries. The FTC cited that 25% of all reported losses originated from social media platforms, and investment-related fraud totaled $1.6 billion. The class will cover some of the most common financial scams, discuss tactics fraudsters use, and outline how to avoid falling prey to them.

We will slow-read eight speeches and additional selections from Lincoln on Democracy, edited by Mario M. Cuomo. We will follow Lincoln’s development as a politician, how he responded to the threat of the spread of slavery in the 1850s, and his delicate balancing act between constitutional rule of law and emancipation during the Civil War. As we confront autocratic challenges from Russia, China, and others, we are well served revisiting how Lincoln articulated his struggle to preserve and strengthen American democracy.

This course will teach participants about the research behind and efficacy of mindfulness practice. It is an experiential course that can be easily incorporated into daily life. Based on the work of Jon Kabat-Zinn and other mindfulness masters, the course will include practice in sitting and walking meditation, and a gentle flowing movement called qigong. Readings and audio tapes from world-renowned mindfulness teachers are used. This class will provide the foundation for the intention, commitment, and practice of mindfulness, fostering and promoting health and well-being.

Each week we'll view and discuss a feature-length documentary or two shorter films. The films will generally feature a performer or composer, the impact of their environment on their music, and the impact of their music on other musicians and on society. Or the focus might be on a style of music from swing to country, jazz to rock. This is a class for the open-minded and intellectually curious because, paraphrasing Mick Jagger, you might not always hear what you like but sometimes you just might like what you hear.

The original Carter Family recorded over 300 songs between 1927 and 1943. They would become known as the “First Family of Country Music,” their old-time Appalachian songs and musicianship profoundly impacting the bluegrass, country, folk, gospel, pop, and rock musicians who followed. In each class, we will trace some Carter Family history, then learn a few of their songs. Musicians bring your instruments, but you don’t need to be a musician to participate. Interest and enthusiasm will suffice. We’ll do it jug-band style!

This class will offer a description of the 17 intelligence agencies that comprise the US intelligence community. It will include the five basic intelligence sources and a description of the six steps of the intelligence cycle. We will drill down into several of the intelligence agencies, such as the DIA (Defense Intelligence Agency). Relevant books and periodicals will be recommended. Time permitting we will examine the polygraph examination, detection dogs, and contemporary spies and traitors.

Reading poetry helps you to know things more fully, it commands your attention, and it can sustain good conversation. In this class, participants select poetry from favorite sources to read aloud with fellow enthusiasts.

In nine sessions we will look into events in America's journey from the seventeenth century to the twenty-first century, guided by literary and artistic materials. Why do many of us know little of Black Americans' lives, nor much about Black American history? Questions we raise in this course will help answer that. Our inquiry will include asking: When did slavery start in America and when did it end? Why are monuments being targeted in protests? Do differences in skin color really matter?

This class will discuss how tax law changes, rising interest rates, and a changing economy may affect your investments and retirement plans. We will share the financial market perspectives of respected economists and explore the investment trends and best practices in a constantly changing economic landscape. We will discuss various investment vehicles, such as mutual funds, index funds, ETFs, alternative investments, and others. The class will finish by highlighting the principles of financial planning and how they can be applied to your personal retirement goals.

Sing and/or play popular gospel songs. Bring your voice, guitar, violin, cello, harmonica, squeeze box, or other instrument and join a group of people singing and playing for fun. This is not meant to be religious. It's just a place to enjoy great music. Join us!

This class will cover the science of forensic anthropology (the forensic study of human skeletal remains), including the investigation of crime scenes, forensic casework, and the development of forensic standards. Each session will cover a different aspect of forensic anthropology and time will be allotted for questions. We will first outline the practice of forensic anthropology, followed by the application of forensic anthropology to crime scenes and to human identification. Then we will focus on the development of forensic standards and why they are important for criminal trials.

The class covers core concepts that every skeptic should know: Mechanisms of deception, memory fallibility, fallibility of perception, metacognition issues, science versus pseudoscience, and skepticism and the media. We will suggest tools useful for helping us recognize our own biases and cognitive barriers to rational assessment.

This class will explore the political implications of the United States’ “proxy war” with Russia fought in Ukraine in order to assess the status of the current “geo-political world order.” In doing that the course will: 1) discuss the historic geo-political contours of the integrated inter-state world capitalist system, with a focus on the period from 1815 to 1945; 2) examine the configuration of the world order between 1945 and 1991; and, 3) place the Russian-Ukrainian Crisis within the context of shifting geo-political plate tectonics since 1991.

In this class, we explore how seven of the world's religions shaped the lives of one or two of their greatest followers, and in return how the religions and the cultures that gave birth to these disciples were challenged and changed by the vision and the sacrifices made. Perhaps the deepest question we will raise is how this could have happened unless the disciples were responding to a mystical force that challenged all three: the disciples, their religions, and their cultures.

Most American PBS viewers know Sue Perkins as one of the original hosts on the Great British Baking Show. She has also presented a number of travel series on British television. Over nine class meetings, we'll view her travels down the Ganges from its source and up the Mekong through South Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, and Thailand. We'll also take a whirlwind tour through Japan or travel along the TransAlaska highway, one of the worlds' most dangerous roads.

Start your Tuesday with music and songs. Join us in a fun, informal weekly sing-along. Bring your voices and/or musical instruments. The operative word is "fun." If you like music, you will like this class. All levels welcome!

The Writer's Workshop serves a community of writers interested in sharing their writing and responding to other writers' work. We will focus on fiction, memoir, creative non-fiction, poetry, travel writing, stories for children, and other types of writing. Following a workshop format, this class will be an opportunity for students to receive feedback for their written work and provide meaningful support to fellow writers.